PARIS, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- France's high-speed rail lines were sabotaged Wednesday as striking transit union leaders began talks with the state-owned rail operator and the government.
The French National Railway Co., operator of the high-speed TGV network, called the setting of fires and shutting of signal switches along the network a "concerted act of sabotage."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the saboteurs would be severely punished, the BBC reported.
Bernard Thibault, secretary-general of the striking General Confederation of Labor, told the Europe 1 radio network the attack was "certainly destined to bring discredit to the profession."
The vandalism caused delays of up to three hours on some high-speed trains, said the railway, known as SNCF, for Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais.
About half the usual number of 700 high-speed trains, carrying passengers between major French cities, ran due to the strike.
Paris Metro operator RATP said one train in four was operating. Most bus service was also idle.
Train drivers, Metro employees and other public employees have been on strike since Nov. 13 to protest Sarkozy's plan to cut their retirement benefits.
The government hopes the opening of the negotiations, expected to last a month, will prompt strikers to return to work.
